Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

You are here: MacNN Forums > Software - Troubleshooting and Discussion > macOS > Can't open pdf in safari

Can't open pdf in safari
Thread Tools
steve666
Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Apr 2001
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jan 31, 2013, 04:03 PM
 
Hey all,

I get a message that the browser won't open a pdf. I thought it was supposed to be built in, do i have to install adobe reader? Thanks
     
jmiddel
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Land of Enchantment
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jan 31, 2013, 09:14 PM
 
Safari does open pdf files, I just tried it. Is this for all pdfs? And what is the message exactly?
     
steve666  (op)
Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Apr 2001
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jan 31, 2013, 10:25 PM
 
Originally Posted by jmiddel View Post
Safari does open pdf files, I just tried it. Is this for all pdfs? And what is the message exactly?
I tried to copy and paste it but it wouldnt let me. Basically said it couldn't open because something was missing and to fix it and try again.
I had downloaded adobe reader before and then deleted it. I wonder if that caused all these issues?
Adobe doesn't have reader in the apps store and I'm leery of downloading it again but I might have no choice
     
Curiosity
Senior User
Join Date: Jul 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 1, 2013, 01:17 AM
 
I just did that with Safari, both from the Internet, and by dragging and dropping a .pdf file onto the Safari window. It works.
     
steve666  (op)
Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Apr 2001
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 1, 2013, 02:06 AM
 
Something is wrong somewhere then, I may never find out
     
steve666  (op)
Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Apr 2001
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 1, 2013, 02:37 AM
 
OK, here is the message. Outside of safari a pdf opened in preview. I dragged it over the safari icon and this is the message:

The Adobe Acrobat/reader selected for viewing pdf documents in browsers cannot be found at its installed location; it may have been moved or deleted.

Please reinstall or repair the application. (16:9)
     
Curiosity
Senior User
Join Date: Jul 2006
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 2, 2013, 01:30 AM
 
What happens if you select a local .pdf file, press Cmd-i, choose "Open with:", select Preview.app and click the "Change All:" button? Does that fix it?
     
steve666  (op)
Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Apr 2001
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 2, 2013, 02:09 AM
 
It wouldn't let me choose preview to open it.
I downloaded adobe reader and now it works fine.

I think when i first had reader than deleted it I also deleted the safari plugin that allowed pdfs to be read within safari. This was the only fix I could come up with
     
Spheric Harlot
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: 888500128, C3, 2nd soft.
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 2, 2013, 06:32 AM
 
Unlikely. You probably deleted Adobe Reader but did NOT delete its plug-in. So the plug-in grabbed the PDF, but the actual Reader engine wasn't available to do the work.

I don't have Reader installed, though, so this is guessing. I won't let it touch my system. I really hate the way Reader handles PDFs in Safari.
     
steve666  (op)
Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Apr 2001
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 2, 2013, 11:37 AM
 
I had used easy find to find all things related to reader and deleted them, I guess I went too far! I actually prefer the way reader handles pdf's but it is a big program-400 mb.
Oh well, lesson learned
     
Spheric Harlot
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: 888500128, C3, 2nd soft.
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 2, 2013, 12:18 PM
 
Do you still have the
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CorePDF.framework
and
/Library/PDF Services
folders, as well as the
/System/Library/Components/PDFImporter.component
System component?

If yes, then it's probably Reader remnants that are still in your way.

If not, then it's most easily fixed by reinstalling the system (which will re-install all of these default components, as well).
     
steve666  (op)
Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Apr 2001
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Feb 2, 2013, 03:02 PM
 
I'll check when I get home tomorrow night, but a re-nstall I wouldn't look forward to!

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot View Post
Do you still have the
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CorePDF.framework
and
/Library/PDF Services
folders, as well as the
/System/Library/Components/PDFImporter.component
System component?

If yes, then it's probably Reader remnants that are still in your way.

If not, then it's most easily fixed by reinstalling the system (which will re-install all of these default components, as well).
     
   
Thread Tools
 
Forum Links
Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Top
Privacy Policy
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:08 PM.
All contents of these forums © 1995-2017 MacNN. All rights reserved.
Branding + Design: www.gesamtbild.com
vBulletin v.3.8.8 © 2000-2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.,